NAIROBI, Kenya – Somali pirates on Wednesday hijacked a U.S.-flagged cargo ship but Pentagon officials later said they believed the U.S. crew was back in control of the vessel.

Across the national security establishment, the United States urgently sought answers Wednesday for what is believed to be the first American hostage-taking by pirates in 200 years — a U.S.-flagged ship hijacked off the coast of Somalia.More On American Crew Battles Somali Pirates